Difference between Tea Tree and Manuka Essential Oil

The difference between Tea Tree and Manuka essential oil

With so many pure essential oils available in the market today, deciding which one to get can for some of us be quite a challenge. Tea tree essential oil and manuka essential oil can often cause confusion as they can be referred to being one and the same oil, which they’re not.

Tea tree essential oil is taken from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia, a plant native to Australia’s New South Wales northeast coast. Topical application of the oil results in antifungal, antiseptic, antibacterial and antiviral action. Tea tree essential oil is commonly used in aromatherapy and helps to treat problems like acne, dandruff, head lice, yeast infections, cold sores, warts and fungal infections like athlete’s foot.

Manuka essential oil is taken from various parts of the Leptospermum scoparium, a plant native to New Zealand’s Te Araroa region. The Maori, have long used manuka to treat a wide range of ailments from numerous skin diseases, urinary issues, dysentery, fever, colds and body aches. Like tea tree essential oil, manuka essential oil is also used in aromatherapy. Manuka oil is a good antiseptic oil so is very useful to treat a range of conditions such as athlete’s foot, cold sores, colds, cuts, insect bites, itching, migraines and ringworm. It is also used to combat stress, fatigue and anxiety. As well as its antiseptic qualities, it is a useful anti-inflammatory helpful with muscular and joint aches and pains.

Both these essential oils are used to treat similar kinds of diseases. Both oils have antifungal, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties. Both oils are derived from plants native to the Australian continent. They have so much in common that people mistake one for the other which is why it’s important to know the difference between Tea Tree and Manuka essential oil.

Please see the table below for the difference between Tea Tree and Manuka essential oil. It is also important to note that studies have shown that manuka essential oil is 20 to 30 times more effective against gram positive bacteria and 5 to 10 times more effective against fungi.